Boy, 7, drives 20 miles to see dad

A seven-year-old boy in the US has been charged after driving his stepfather's car for nearly 20 miles in a bid to visit his biological father.

When police caught up with the youngster on a country road he was still in his pyjamas.

The incident occurred in Michigan's Huron County, 110 miles north of Detroit, and police said the boy had reached speeds of at least 50mph during the drive.

"He was crying and just kept saying he wanted to go to his dad's," Caseville police chief Jamie Learman said. "That was pretty much it. He just wanted to go to his dad's."

His father is also a resident of Huron County.

The boy was charged with unlawful use of a vehicle, although prosecutors said it was only so he and his family could get counselling assistance.

Tim Rutkowski, Huron County prosecutor, said: "What is it in this child's life that's stressing him that he leaves in a vehicle? What we don't want is to let this happen again. There's something going on in his life."

He added that no attempt would be made to take the child out of his home.